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A Guide to Finer Living in Connecticut & Abroad November 2026

Vol 21 Issue 250 inkct.com

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NOVEMBER 2026 Vol. 21 Issue 250

Feature Stories

Departments

Community Over Clay

Bee’s Knee’s Pottery

Patient 26-519

A Love story

Love Letters to the shoreline - Seabirds.............................26 What’s Greg Drinking - Jakob Schneider...........................28 That was Then - The 5-Legged Turkey....................................40 The Cheesemonger - Gather, Give Thanks.........................50 October Events - INK To-Do List......................................... 52 “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” — Cicero

Artist

Celia Johnson

Breaking Down Barriers

It is that season again. Humbly, I first need to start off with a few major gratitudes of my own. We are very thankful to all of our partners, the local businesses, many of which have been with us for over a decade. One in particular, Mr. Keith Bowles of Saybrook Home, has been proudly and prominently featured on the rear cover of INK for 17 years. That in and of itself is amazing, but not as much so as watching SH blossom into what it is today. Fully grown and exceptional. We are thankful that INK has remained a complimentary offering every month that, for 22 years, people have been able to pick up and put on their coffee tables. We are local. We think local. A little gift each month to the shoreline. That gift is only made possible by our sponsors. Shop there, and tell them you have seen them in INK. You may like the business owner as much as their products. As the years roll on, it has been reassuring to hear more and more people saying out loud that they are earnestly making it a point to shop local. Any of the ads featured in this magazine is a new place to visit. A new community to explore. Pick your own adventure. Bet on Main St.

More than a Sweep

It’s Chimney Season

Shop local this holiday season!

Contributors

Laurencia Ciprus - editorial Sara Drought- Nebel - editorial Ellen Lessard - editorial Rona Mann - editorial

Jeffery Lilly

founder / publisher

Carolina Marquez-Sterling - design Gregory Post - editorial Deana Simmon - editorial Jan Tormay - editorial

Advertising

Jeffery Lilly - Advertising/Publisher ads@inkct.com v. 860.581.0026

Rona Mann - Greater Connecticut six07co@att.net v. 401-539-7762

On the Cover: “Life is Not a Race” - photo by Jeffery Lilly (enhanced)

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s the days grro ow sho orter and the holiday season settles over the Connecticut sho oreline, a familiar pull towarrd d home, tradition, and togetherness return ns. It is a time when we gather around tables, rreeconnect with family and d friends, search for meaningful gifts, and allow ourselves to slow dow wn just a little. At Bee’s Knees Pottery in Old Say ybrook, slowing down and connecting isn’t reserved for the holidays. It iis at the heart of what happens herree every day y.. What began as a love of clay and a drreeam of creating a welcoming pottery studio has grown into som mething much mor more ree meaningful: a com m-munity of artists, friends, studentts, and makers who have come together thrro ough a shared creative experieence. Our philosophy has become simp ple: Community Over Clay y.. The pottery may be what initially y brings people through ro the doorr,, but more often than not, it is the peop ple who keep them coming back.

More Than a Pottery Studio Bee’s Knees was crreeated as “a plaace to connect with clay, y, but most imporr-tantly y, create in community y, y” y. Those worrd ds have taken on more meaning as the studio has grown since opening in June of 2025. On any given day y,, the studio is fi filled with the familiar sounds of pottery being made—the hum of wheelss turning, clay being wedged against tables, tools clinking, conversations ons unfolding, and, very often, laughterr.. Someone may be strru uggling to ceenter a particularly stubborn piece of clay while another member offffers a suggestion. Acrro oss the room, someone else may be glazing a bowl while asking for opinions about which color to choose. Members celebrate beautiful pieces coming out of the kiln and commiserate over the occasional piece that did not turn out quite as planned. It is creative, sometimes messy, y, occasionally unpredictable—and re won n-derfully human. Some members arrive knowing exactly what they want to make. Others come simply because they need a few hours to crreeate, unwind, and spend time with people they enjoy y. Over time, those hours spent working side by side have created friendships that extend well beyond the studio. Members encourage one anotherr.. They exchange ideas, admire each other ’s work, share techniques, celebrate successes, and help each other through ro the inevitable frustrations r of working with clay y.. They have shared birthdays, milestones, stories, meals, and plenty of cups of coffffee.

Laurie-Rae Lallier Owner & Founder

The People Behind d the Pottery For owner and founderr Laurie-Rae Lallierr,, pottery has been a lifelong thread woven thr t oughout her life. Her relationship with clay c began in high school. Eventually y,, it inspired her to pursue a dream: creating a pottery studio centered not only on learning th he craft, but also on building relationships. “My love of pottery inspired me to follow my dream of creating a studio space that builds a creative, supportive, and nurturing community y,,” Laurie-Rae shares. “It’s a place where we can grow togetherr,, refine our skills, and form lasting bonds.” Teaching remains an important part of Bee’s Knees. Beginners can Te discover the fundamentals of wheel throwing and working with clay y,, while experienced potters can continue developing their skills and pursuing their own creative direction. But perhaps the most rewarding part of watching the studio grow has been seeing individual artists begin to find their own voices. There is something remarkable about watching someone learning to make their first slightly lopsided bowl and then, months or years laterr,, seeing shelves filled with work that is stunning and unmistakably theirs.

“Somewhere along the way y,, our community began to feel a lot like family.”

One artist gravitates toward earthy y,, organic forms. Another loves bright colors. Someone else creates elegant functional pieces meant for everyday use. Some experiment constantly y,, while others spend weeks perfecting one particular shape or glaze combination.

And that may be the thing we are proudest of.

There is room for all of it.

10 “No two potters are alike—and thank goodness for that!” That individuality is part of what makes a community studio so interesting. Everyone may begin with the same material, but what emerges from each pair of hands is entirely different.

Meet Our Member Artists Our member artists have become the heart of Bee’s Knees. Membership provides experienced potters with access to studio equipment, shared resources, workspace, and the freedom to work independently y.. But describing membership only in terms of equipment and studio access misses the most important part. Members become part of something. They work alongside one anotherr,, learn from each otherr,, inspire one anotherr,, and contribute to the personality of the studio itself. A new glaze combination discovered by one member quickly becomes a conversation. A beautiful form coming off the wheel inspires someone else to try something new. Advice is generously shared. And when the kiln is opened, there is almost always a small crowd eager to see what happened inside. Those kiln openings capture much of w what Bee’s Knees is about. Everyone is excited to find their own piieces, of course, but they are just as eager to see what everyone else m made.

That generosity of spirit is whatt we mean by Community Over Clay y.. The clay gives us somethiing to work on. The community gives us sometthing thi to t belong b l t to.

Giving Handmade Thiss Holiday Season The holidays offer a wonderfu ul opportunity to celebrate that sense of connection. At a time when so much of ou ur shopping can happen with a few clicks, there is something refreshingly e personal about choosing a gift made by hand. A handmade mug is never sim mply a mug. Someone wedged the clay y.. Cen ntered it on a wheel. Pulled up the walls. Shaped the handle. Allo owed it to dry. y. T Trrimmed it. Fired it. Chose the glaze. Glazed it. F Fired it again and finally held the finished piece in their hands. Every bowl, vase, platterr,, ornaament, and serving piece carries evidence of its maker. Subtle variations in shape, trraces of the artist artist’ss hand, unexpected glaze movement, or small differences may never be duplicated exactly y..

11 Those are not imperfections. They are what make handmade pottery special. And when you give a handmade piece as a holiday gift, you are giving something with a story y.. Perhaps it becomes the mug someone reaches for every morning. A serving bowl appears on the table at family dinners year after year. A vase holds flowers brought home from the garden. An ornament is unpacked every December and eventually becomes part of a family’s holiday traditions. These everyday objects quietly become part of our lives.

The Bee’s Knees Holidaay Marketplace This Decemberr,, we are especiaally excited to celebrate with our member artists and welcome the t community into the studio for the Bee’s Knees Pottery Holidaay Marketplace on Saturday y,, December 5th and Sunday y,, Decemberr 6th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Holiday Marketplace willl feature handmade pottery from our talented member artists, giving visitors a chance to shop local and discover truly one-of-a-kind gifts. Rather than shelves filled with h mass-produced items, shoppers will find pieces that have passsed through the hands of artists right here in our community y.. Expect mugs destined for cozy y winter mornings, bowls and serving pieces ready for holidaay gatherings, vases, ornaments, decorative pottery y,, and plenty y of unexpected treasures.

12 More importantly y,, the Marketplace allows visitors to connect the finished pottery with the people who make it. We hope shoppers will take their time. Pick up a mug and feel how We the handle fits in their hand. Look closely at the glaze on a bowl. Find something that reminds them of a friend, a sisterr,, a parent, a teacherr,, a hostess, or perhaps themselves. Holiday shopping does not always have to be about finding more. Sometimes it’s about finding something meaningful. By purchasing work from a local artist, you support that artist directly while also helping sustain the creative community around them. Y Yo our pur p chase says y that handmade work matters,, local artists matterr,, and the places that bring creativ ve people together matter.

Come Visit Us Bee’s Knees Pottery is located at 355 Mid ddlesex T Tu urnpike in Old Saybrook, serving artists, students, makeers, and pottery lovers from throughout the Connecticut shoreline an nd beyond. Whether you are interested in learning p pottery y,, joining a community of fellow makers, finding locally made ceeramics, or simply seeing what we are all about, we invite you to w walk through our doors. doors

And this holiday season, we esp pecially hope you will join us for or our Holiday Marketplace, Deceember 5th and 6th, from 10:00 a.m. .m. to 4:00 p.m. pm

Come meet our artists. See where the pottery is made. Shop for something created by h hand. Find a gift with a story behind itt. And perhaps experience a little o of what has made Bee’s Knees so special to all of us. Because while there will alwayss be clay on our tables, pottery on our shelves, and another kiln w waiting iti tto b be opened, d B Bee’s ’ K Knees has grown into something much h bigger than the things we make.

It is about friendships. It is about creativity y.. It is about showing up for one another. It is about making room in our busy lives to gatherr,, create, laugh, learn, and belong.

Community Over Clay y..

That is th e heart of B Bee’s Knees Pottery—and this holiday y season,, we w would love to share it with you. www.beeskneespottery.com 355 Middlesex T Tu urnpike, Old Saybrook, ro CT T,, 06475 laurie-rae@beeskneespottery.com 860.638.7334

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Rest in Peace, Jackie — Queen of Big Bear Valley

Jackie and Shadow, January 8, 2026. A familiar ritual in the nest, a quiet exchange between longtime mates.

couple of months ago, I answered a WhatsApp call. On the screen was a sister in tears. Seeing her cry always sends a jolt through me. As the older sister, I carry the lessons our parents instilled in us about looking out for one another. That instinct is ingrained in me. What had happened? I gently asked through her weeping, she said, “Jackie is dead. She died today, leaving Shadow and the kids all alone.” Who is Jackie? Jackie, I soon learned, was an eagle my sister followed on a video cam for five years. I was baffled, a little amused, and maybe even cynical. Was she really calling me in tears over an eagle? But her sorrow was unmistakable, tears streaking her face. I set aside my confusion and tried to meet her with empathy. What do these birds mean to you, what made their loss so painful? “I don’t know,” she said. “I feel so sorry for Shadow. He is alone. You know, eagles mate for life.” No, I actually did not know this. I smiled my kindest smile and told her I was sorry she was feeling this way. Her words lingered long after we hung up. In the past five years, we’ve lost both my father and sister, and her grief struck a quiet, familiar chord.

After we hung up, I sat there, puzzled. What was really happening? Was she unconsciously allowing some of her grief to rise through the Eagles? Was this another glint from the reservoir of grief? Curiosity got the better of me, so I dove into social media and found the Eagles video cam page on Facebook. It was astonishing to discover hundreds—maybe thousands—of people reacting just like my sister. I scrolled through post after post, absorbing all the stories and sentiments. The community surrounding these birds was astonishing. Friends of Big Bear Valley and the Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam were a phenomenon. Their mission is to protect and preserve Big Bear Valley, a natural haven in San Bernardino County, California, through education, monitoring, and advocacy. While exploring their Facebook page, I stumbled upon a link to the Ojai Raptor Center, where a whole page was devoted to Bald Eagle Patient 26-519—lovingly known as Jackie. The raptor center’s statement reflected the tenderness of a eulogy, honoring the immense responsibility and rare privilege of caring for Jackie. Witnessing specialists and organizations come together for her was moving. Their words spoke of heavy hearts, but also profound gratitude for being part of this journey and for helping unite people through our shared love of wildlife. A longtime online friend wrote that she was deeply saddened; “watching them over the years on the live cams really lifted me up. It’s hard to explain. She was such a wonderful mother and

It is enchanting, all while the protective parents dive-bombed now and then, it couldn’t be helped to peek at the chicks. Their presence is uplifting. Then, ten or twelve days later, the nest was empty. A quiet melancholy settled in. It didn’t bring tears, but the absence is felt all the same. Then it struck me—I’d done something similar. At fourteen, I got hooked on the soap opera One Life to Live. The cowboy storyline lured me in, and soon it became a daily ritual between lunch and dinner breaks from work. That habit—maybe even obsession—lasted until the show was canceled in 2012. I watched for 37 of its 43 years, through high school and college. I even arranged my class schedule so I could be home for my favorite characters. By graduation, VCRs were Big Bear Valley Jackie and Shadow's home. everywhere, and I made sure to tape episodes to watch after work. These characters became like friends. On a ninemate; it was tragic to watch her fade away and eventually die. The creatures of the earth are innocent beings, such a refreshing escape week solo camping trip out west with my dog Spot, I packed a tiny battery-powered TV with rabbit ears to keep up with the drama in from dealing with humanity.“ Landview, PA. Later that day, I’d call my husband from the road and talk about the characters as if they were people we knew. Another person described how she cheered for the eagle pair and witnessed their family grow, saying the eagle’s journey from fame to farewell left a legacy that will inspire and protect countless birds for generations to come, ending her tribute simply, “May the queen soar high.”

When the show ended, I genuinely grieved for those characters. They were fictional, of course, but the loss felt real—just as the eagles did for my sister.

Jackie passed away on August 10, after weeks of intensive treatment for a serious illness. For years she had soared as part of a public, livestreamed saga, enchanting those who followed her life with Shadow. The news described her as perhaps the world’s most famous bald eagle and reported that her death has deeply affected her enormous following. I kept mulling over this odd sense of attachment. People from all walks of life were united, watching two eagles—our national symbol—go about their daily lives. Why do people become so attached? Who really has the time to watch eagles? My sister had mentioned the live stream a few years ago, but when I tuned in, nothing happened most of the time. It takes a certain dedication, and I am wired differently. Or am I? Later, my sister shared that she would start her mornings by checking in on the eagles, coffee in hand. I remembered how much I enjoyed watching and listening to songbirds. Maybe this wasn’t so strange after all. This spring, the robins returned to their old nest by my front door. The parents busied themselves, sprucing up their home. Soon, there were eggs: one, then another, then a third—three tiny robins.

Shadow, July 22, 2026. In the weeks after Jackie disappeared, Shadow was visibly distressed, calling out repeatedly.

Shadow and Jackie’’s Nest.

Sandy hatched first on April 4, 2026, closely followed bby Luna on April 5, 2026.

Sandy and Luna waiting for food.

I was beginning to understand. I’ve lost d dogs more than once, and the sadness lingered for months, sometimes y years. Even now w,, when I think of each of them, I feel a tug in my heart. T The eagles had become part of the tapestry of her daily life, and Jackie’s aabsence left a small tear. I have to admit, a strange, restless anx xiety crept in as I watched Shadow possibly bonding with anotheer eagle. I caught myself resisting the urge to care, sensing how w easily I could become entangled. Even as you remind yourseelf these are wild beings, You know her partner. years of watching make them familiarr. Yo You recognize their nest. Yo Yo You start to aanticipate what comes next. Their story becomes a quiet thread wo oven into your own. It’s both fascinating and deeply comfortting that our ability to attach doesn’t depend on being seen in return. Sometimes, just witnessing

a life is enough to make us feel we’ve w shared in it. The fact that us adds to the profundity these birds remain oblivious to u y.. When I spoke to my sister again n a few days laterr,, she was calmerr.. She told me about the new eagle. e. She said it still hurts. I asked herr,, Where is that touching you? Shee answered plainly y.. “There is no deeper meaning; grief is grief. I am grieving.” That landed squarely! Grief isn’t about the size of the loss, but about how much space something held inside us. I confess a thought quietly persisted sisted as I sear searched to understand why they felt so attached. Wa Watching animals go about their business is always fascinating. Birds don’t question why they sing; they do it. Bees search for honey without hesitation; they do it.

Sandy and Luna wait in the nest, with Shadow in the background, as if waiting for Jacckie to return. Jackie had been taken to the Ojai Raptor Center for treatment after an eagle fighht. re

Jackie and Shadow, circa 2021. A qu uiet moment between longtime mates, unawarre of how many people would come to care about their lives.

What was it about these eagles that captivated people so deeply it silenced all the noise of today’s American chatter? No political sides. No arguments. No ideology y.. No debates about who was right. Just quiet. None of that seeped in. W Wa as the attachment born of a recognition? Perrh haps there was something magical about these birds. The bald eagle. A national emblem. A living symbol. They were wild creatures following the rrh hythm of their lives. But as my sister watched them survive, nurture their young, find and lose each otherr,, she saw more than eggs and twigs. In that nest, she and countless others recognized qualities that resonated deeply within us. Coincidentally y,, over years

of moments, these birds, our national symbol, endowed d by us with exceptional qualities, revealed those very qualities we alll recognize and cherish. To T ogetherr,, they found something to admire, something to o care about, and in the end… They were simply sad that Jackie died. Jackie’’ss story did not end with her death. On October 3, thee Big Bear Valley community gatherreed to rreemember and honor herr,, a fi Va fitting tribute to an eagle who had become part of so many lives.

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Nov 6 - Dec 31, 2026 Reception: Friday, Nov 6, 5-8 pm

Thomas Adkins, After the Snowfall, Oil, 20 x 30”

Kelly Birkenruth, A Soft Breeze, Oil, 10 x 10”

Stephanie Birdsall, Plum Crazy, Pastel, 9 x 12”

SUSAN POWELL FINE ART 679 Boston Post Road Madison, CT 203 318 0616 Julie Beck, In the Light of the Stars, Oil, 12 x 9”

Anne McGrory, Invited Guest, Pastel & gold leaf, 9.5 x 15”

Festiive Wine Tastings Our Ann nual Holiday Market December 12 | 12-6 PM

Ma M ake Sto onington V Vi Vineyar ineya arrd ds part of you ur holiday trra adiitions! 5 2 3 Ta u gw w o n k Ro a d , St o n i n g t o n , C T st o n ingt o n v i n e y ar ds.c o m

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Love Letters to the Shoreline by Elizabeth S. Mitchell

Seabirds

fly differently from virtually every other species. I think it’s their certainty of both flying and floating—they have no fear; there is no part of the world, sky or sea, to which they are not perfectly suited. Somewhere along the Connecticut Shoreline at the peak of summer, I sit quietly by a pool that overlooks a marina, and I watch a seagull, the underside of its wings golden from the sunset glinting off the water. It floats effortlessly overhead and then dives, straight as an arrow, toward the rippling water. Its face disappears underwater for a moment, its wings kissing the surface, and then it emerges again, in a matter of seconds, with something in its beak, and rises back into the sky. I didn’t grow up by the water. The oak tree in our vast front field was home to countless crows and the occasional hawk. Perched atop a branch, a hawk watches the field below with unshakable focus. Then, without warning, it dives. Just before crashing full speed into the earth, it rises again with something in its talons, its great wings beating urgently against the descent, kicking up a small cloud of dirt and disturbed grass. Somehow, this is not as beautiful a sight to me as the gull with the fish. The hawk knows its limitations. The earth, unlike the sea, is impenetrable. The bird cannot miscalculate, cannot treat its conquest as play—the slightest miscalculation and it will break its fragile bird body on the unforgiving ground, itself becoming a meal for the waiting crows. The seagull, though, is pure joy during the hunt. It dives and swoops with abandon and ease, touching the water with its face, with its wings, with its feet. If it comes up empty-mouthed, it twirls in the sky a moment and goes back in again, like a child on a roller coaster for the fifth time in a row. Gleeful from the simple joy of motion. Having grown up in an inland part of New England, I relished my family’s summer visits to coastal Maine. The first time my parents put me down on the sand, at less than two years old, they tell me I immediately began to run in overjoyed circles, shrieking with pure, uncontainable happiness. I’ve never outgrown that feeling; I’ve just learned to contain it a little better for the sake of fellow beachgoers. One of the first things I remember noticing about seagulls on these annual visits to Maine was that, unlike the birds of my home, which would go suddenly quiet and still at the approach of a summer storm, seagulls continued to circle and call, swoop and dive, undeterred, undaunted by the darkening sky or the rumbling thunder. Even when the rain came and the lightning began darting toward the water, the gulls remained on the beach. Late every August, as my family would pack up and prepare to head home, my heart would ache in a way I could not express. It was not about vacation ending, or about school beginning again. It was about leaving the sea— something my soul had always recognized as home. Now that I live here on the Connecticut Shoreline, I still visit Maine every summer with my family, but upon leaving, I no longer feel that ache with the same intensity. Vacation is still ending, I am still parting from a place that has been significant to me all my life, but the life I am returning to—the people, the community, and especially the sea—now feels, truly and deeply, like home. And so, I am undaunted, undeterred, by whatever the weather might next blow my way. With Love,

Lizzy

Photos by Elizabeth S. Mitchell

What is Greg Drinking? Jakob Schneider - Melaphyr Riesling Trocken 2023 November. Fully fall. No last vestiges of summer left to grasp. As the famed poet Rilke once penned: ‘Lord, it was much, the summer: but it’s time now..Lay down your shadow on the stone sundial and let the winds run loose upon the meadow.’ For New Englanders,, fall is either your favorite season, with many reasons for that positive outlook, or a small step in humanity’s march toward the winter doldrums. As you begrudgingly turn on the furnace, furnish your wine fridge with fresh corks to crave. Thanksgiving looms large on the calendar, and I am here to champion a lesser-picked poultry pairing in a Riesling, specifically Jakob Melaphyr Riesling Trocken 2023. America, land of the free: it is time to be brave. We must leave behind the trauma of cheaper, lower-quality offerings in your nearest wine shop or ‘package store.’ As we have covered here before, with forgiveness comes opportunity. We have challenged the critiques of the mass-produced Chardonnay, heavy on the oak and heavier on the taste buds. We met the Merlot blasphemy head-on, noting that one great comedic film (Sideways) isn't canon when curating a wine list. Now it is time to revisit Riesling, Germany’s most famous contribution to cellars and glasses around the globe. ‘Relax’, we aren’t drinking that brand. These grapes come from a region that shares its name with the neighboring river it runs alongside, the Nahe. The soil was one of the biggest selling points. It is a mix that is largely a blend of volcanic porphyry (pronounced poor-for-re), which is a dense crystal containing rock scattered among large deposits of slate and red sandstone. The soil and growing environment is said to be a perfect pitchpoint between the brighter wines of Mosel and the richer viscosity of Rheingau offerings. Weingut Jakob Schneider is an institution in their part of the Nahe. The family has owned and operated it from the village of Niederhausen since the late 1600s. The trocken vintages represent their driest form, and for the sake of the article, I

chose the Melaphyr because it is their entry-level introduction to this style of winemaking. It even has a screw cap, so you don’t have to pack a corkscrew for your fall festivities. The worst of Riesling is known for a ton of residual sugar and a mouthfeel that is closer to children’s cough syrup than a well-timed adult beverage. Breathe in ample and elegant notes of wildflowers and lime rind. This wine pays tribute to the German emphasis on structure, with tannins to match. Stone fruits pop pleasantly with focused hints of peach and apricot. The soil being volcanic in nature certainly lends a subtle smokiness that eases the electricity of the zesty fruit found in every glass. Like the guest room at your family homestead you are hoping to crash in: it is warm, clean, and immensely inviting. You can say ‘cheers’ over Chèvre or gush about how perfect it is with a little aged Gouda. If you are fresh from the local fishmonger, this is a wine that will serenade anything from seared scallops to shrimp cocktail. Finally, for the traditional feast: a tighter fit with turkey would be hard to find, especially if you are bold enough to do some herbal butter rubs, brines, or, better yet, smoke the bird outright like I do. Serve chilled, but take it out of the fridge 15-20 minutes before so the temperature doesn’t hide any of the more subtle flavors. Reasonably priced and fairly easy to find, in this case procured from Cask and Keg in Mystic. Germany, as a nation, is long on tradition and very self-aware about the best and worst of its history. When it comes time to pull into whatever driveway you are parking in for the lengthy sessions of catching up and breaking bread, take a minute to remember that most things can be forgiven, especially with any sense of sincerity. It does not mean you have to forget what you are anxious or apprehensive about. Like the Trocken we tried here, your backbone should stay strong. Allow for toasts to be made and grace to be prayed, because we have such a finite amount of time on this planet and should be as thankful as possible for every moment.

Gregory Post is a sommelier and manager at Saltwater Farm Vineyard, afﬁliated with Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard.

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By Ellen Lessard Photographs Courtesy y Celia Johnson Sitting down in Celia Johnson’s Ivoryton kitchen itchen, on a brilliant late summer day y,, I was in for a journey j in time and space. Aft fter settling ing in with a copy of my questions and a piece of paper provided prov by the hostess, she offffered me tea. ea. I was w to find she was Irish and utilizes old d Irish names as the titles of her paintings which was so interesting to me as a fellow w human hu of Irish descent. In response to “Why?” “Why She explained, “I imagine a long-ago ng-ago ancestor in Ireland, perhaps a lacemaker emaker or cabinet maker or poet, who ho has a bit bi of a piece in me. I title most off my work in old Irish in thanks.” I chose a tea named Marrakesh which was a blend of black tea and mint. Calling to mind my own Middle Eastern travels and adventures we started our time with storytelling. storytelling I don don’tt know if it was the Irish in us that turned our beginning time to Celia’s adventures in o Dusseldorf, Germany for ten years, and D my own sojourns abroad in Spain, the Em mirates and Y Yeemen, but I asked and we turn ned our conversations to the arts and beauti tiful landscapes and stunning cities like Paaris, Madrid and the many cities of Europe,, the ease of travel at that time and more. It w was a unique blend of intimacies shared and d new vistas on the path of life.

Somee of Celia’s influences ces es during her time in Germany erma rma were the artists ists of the Bauhaus Bauha Moveemen n nt. She related d, “When When I was living g in Germany y, a grou y, u undbreaking Russian Constrru uctivist - Bauhaus uhaus exhibition e at The Museum Ludwig in Cologne ogne blew my mind with the stories, vision, and intentions ntentions of those artists. These were difffferent movem vem ements in difffferent countries but deeply related in their utopian philosophies.” She recalled, “At this sprawling exhibition, I was introduced to the staggeringly progressive and socially committed Modernist work of the Bauhaus. It was forrmally rigorous rigorous and visually very arresting. They were all idealists working to unify fine art, craft and technology into a total, total elevated work, dedicated to breaking down barriers between “high’ and ‘low” art in embracing design to improve the lives of the public in general. Then the Nazis shut them down in 1933, and subsequently several Bauhaus artists emigrated to the US, such as Josef and Anni Albers, Marcel Breuerr,, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and the architect W Wa alter Gropius, the Bauhaus founder who went on to teach at Harvard.”

Her excellent education has served d her well in launching her career and following owing g her path. She talked about her college lege ege exp peri per erience; “I earned my bachelor’ss in fine arts at California College for thee Arts in dessign, as my parents would not ot finance financ a patth in p painting. They y were wer ere adaman an and prractiant cal. I had to go on and figure fig figu out pain nting on my own. I had d the aart school experiience and it was a fantastic school that launcched me into my professional design career.“ Celia’s resume is extensive having b been

35 an Art Director with the Levis account a t an ad agency in San Francisco and a Creative Director with ESPRIT in Germany in addition to her painting. A fter a few years of work with ESPRIT T,, learning German and finding her way around, she resigned from ESPRIT and turned to freelance and pursued her painting. She said, “It felt like a supremely romantic thing to do.” She spoke about this time: “I rented an art studio with other artist friends behind the town train station a nd st ar t ed applying to audit painting classes l att the th Duesseldorf D ld f Art A t Academy A d . A professor accepted my petition to study without accruing formal credit. It was a graduate studio kind of arrangement, open p studio hours with fellow students, and regular crits. My work then was very heavily influenced by the German Neo-Expr eo essionism of that era.” She hee talked about her time at New Y Yo ork University; “NYU was after returning Univ from German ny y; I entered the Interactive Tee lecommunications Program at Tisch T Sch ool of the Arts to study art application in new media, earning my graduate degree. My design work expanded to new media applications. It was absolutely fascinating. But things have changed a great deal since then in that discipline.” After our acquaintance, I wass invited into Celia’s studio. I had asked her which artists had influenced her. She shared d, “Everyone. Everything I have ever seen that stopped me and enthralled me.“ There’s an extensive list. Her list was a tapestry of artists from modern masters: Sol Lewitt, Pablo P Picasso, Matisse and Georgia O’Keefee to the masters of times in the distant past Rafael, el, l, Caravaggio, Botticelli and Fra Angel A Angelico Ange and more. I had the pleasure of perusing her artist’s library y,, and I cou ould haave talked to ou her for hours just abo bout that. Her medium bo currently is acrylic.. S She discusseed the fluidity and range of techn hnique she hass been finding hn ing with acrylic: “I h had a great leaarning opp opportun niity that intr trroduced me to the he medium when I was sse selected to hav have a fellowship at the Sam & Adele dele Golden Foundation Residency cy in n New Berlin, NY Y.. That was

36 bles, blocks - an b n the disscovery of Colorforms - collapses in nd time to inform exactly w what I am doing now: manifesting a formal, non-referential e l, rhythmic, geometric abstraction.” When asked abou W u play she said, “Play in my artwork links ut directly back to mo moving g shapes around like I did as a kid. You put different sha Yo ha s togetherr,, move them around, toss hapes them out, bring them m back, b and see what the game is. It may be strongest for mee as an aspect of development, less so in the final working--out ut aand building of a painting, benarrow down, edit, and focus. cause that’s when I starrt to nar That’s when the work b becomes mor moree considered and more intentional. Play generrates new ideas, as, s, colo colors, textures, structures aand d forms, o s, in n sketching and particularly y,, for f me, me through collaging. On a smaller scale than a larger painting, collage allows the precio ousness of the materials to fall away y,, allowing more freedom and accidents that can surprise and inform. Collaging involv ves creating new experimental palettes, papers, textures, an nd formal juxtapositions.” Celia ‘s work is quintesssentially contemporary yet anyone w has walked into onee of the great museums of the world who feels the craft and artisstry of the work at a deeper level than just surface subjectts. One commentary read, “Celia J Johnson’s paintings, w which can read like collages at first glance, are in fact metiiculously crafted acrylics applied to wood. Based on both h digital and analog studies, the visual tensions between their p positive and negative spaces, layered

life-changing for me. Having access to all of those Golden materials to learn n experiencce from created a phenomenal experience that I am endlessly grateful for.” As I ascended the stairs of this historr-ic home and turned into her studio, I gasped. Then cried. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was my turn to be enthralled. I had an immediate and visceral reaction to Celia’s art. On the walls of a newly conceived studio were multiple paintings that called to me at a gut level. They were exquisite. The colors, the juxtaposition of the forms. Johnson’s use of positive and negative space with exposed wood next to colorful reds, oranges, blues and yellows and shades of grey y y,, white, and bla lack created room for interpretation and experience in the th viewerr.. A visual artist from chi fr hildhood when imagination worked its magic, she explained, My work surround “My work’ss genesis lies in my childhood, childhood where I often surrounded myself with simple materials on the floorr,, or outside. I would catalog treasured objects by colorr,, size and shape. This organized play codifying the formal characteristics of pebbles, leaves, mar-

forms, idiosyncratic focal points, and vernacular palette of both neutral and saturated colors create hybrid geometric mechan mechanisms nisms of form, space, light, and movement nt. Despite their precisionist aesthetic and calibrated sense of form and design, their intimately worked surfaces and considered colors are celebrations of the

37 joy of making.” g When I inquired about the dynamicc nature of how she creates m o v e m e n t in i her pieces, she said, “I am not sure; it is i my language, innate to me. It’s how I w work o with color as structure and form.” Sh h related, “They are informed he by an on ongoing investigation into the eff-fects off color and form in various states of ch ho eography and collision. The work hor is o often composed on raw wood surfaces incorporating the woodgrain as a medium both in addition to and distinct from the color palette. My push-pull of form and color in the space within the edges of the rectangle suggests how painting and collage can merge, while I mine the dual role that color plays both as content and as structure. As with pieces of a puzzle, the works express a dynamic, haptic quality y,, where one could imagine reaching in and d shifting, repositioning, or rearranging thee shapes within the frame. Saturated flaat color fields layer and shuffle in degrees o of reveal to float above or recede beneath th he

picture plain until the image, like a com mpleted puzzle, is set.” Celia showed me a game that she still had neatly packed into a box called in German, “Baauspiel uilding Ein Schiffff “and in English the “Ship Bu Game”. This wooden construction seet was designed by Alma Seidhoff-Buscher for a nursery room in the Haus am Horm, a show nur nu housee constructed for the W Weeimar Bauhaus exhibition in n 11923. Seidhoffff-Buscher’s contributions to the show w included functional furniture and toys across thee ssp spectrum of color. I was intrigued by the colors and d design of the game, which is a series of blocks off varied v forms that can be used to not only make a sh ship, but a landscape, a bridge and more. The key h here is using the imagination. In his 1853 essay “M Morale du joujou” (The Ethic M of T To oys), Charles Bau udelaire describes how toys u in a child’s hands, b become ‘actors in the great drama of life’ - Baud delaire’s infant who takes the d toy apart in order to o locate its “soul”. —Y Yv ve-Alan Bois, Painting as Mo Model, 1990 In Celia Johnso son’s work, the puzzles are comso pleted, and d iin indeed the soul of the painting is what draw aw ws me in. When I asked her about her inspirat pirat iration in color she offered, “Oh, everything. Nature. The impressionists. Primary colors, Na tertiary colors. Other artists and artworks I see. Architecture. Music. It’s myriad and can inspire

from anything, from visual to evoked mood to o happy accident.” Regarding her evolution as a painterr,, she said, “The sabbatical in Chapel Hill was pretty much of an incubator time where both my husband and a I managed to become full-time painters. W Wee both began to build a gallery base from there. There is a very lively and broadly talented art community there, anchored by the master’s in fine arts program at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, the Nasher Museum at Duke University y,, and the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. I showed in New Yo Yo rk, New Haven, and Paris, from f North h Carolina. C l I also had work exhibited at the North Carolina Museum of Art and the Greenhill Center for North Carolina Art and placed a large wall installation in the corporate collection of Credit Suisse, Durham. I was quite busy straight through COVID.” Her move to Connecticut came

39 when friends from Chester encouraged Celia and her husband to come here. Private in nature, she has built up a friendship base in the area and made inroads into the art community locally y.. Her recent exhibit at Studio Paradis in Chester brought attention to work she has done for the past several years. She added, “I enjoy the Chester Gallery Christmas fundraising postcard show. I will be participating this year in the River V Vaalley Artists open studios tour October 11-13, in my new studio in Ivoryton.” When asked about her goals for the future, she confided, “Keep working, keep building, keep making, keep exploring.” For morree information on this artist please visit Celia Johnson at: https://www.celiajohnson.net/

Celia Johnson, the artist the process

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It was the same old, same old every Thanksgiving, and boy, did I dread it.

e always went to Uncle Sid’s house for holiday dinner. That in and of itself was okay because he had a big house, a dachshund named “Ginger” who I loved to chase around the big house, and it was big enough that I didn’t have to talk to my cousins. There were five of us, all girls. All but one were older than me, so they didn’t want anything to do with me. Liz was the baby of the cousins, so at least there was one who held a lower rank. But Liz was no fun. She was a crybaby and always “told on me,” so I usually wound up getting in trouble with my parents and often with a spanking. That led to the three older cousins making fun of me, which then made me even more embarrassed. So I’d stick my tongue out at them, which usually led to another whack on the behind. So let’s just say, Thanksgiving was not exactly a Hallmark holiday for me. Uncle Sid was rich, the only one in the family who was. His dining room table seemed to stretch from one wall of the massive dining room to the other. It was always beautifully set with fine china, linens, crystal stemware that caught the flickering light of the centerpiece candles, and so much silverware at every place. My mother tried to prepare me in advance by telling me which spoons and forks to use for each course. Still, it fell on deaf ears, and to my mother’s eventual horror, I just used the biggest, fattest spoon for whatever would get the most food from the elegant china into my not-so-elegant mouth fast. The food was always beautifully prepared and plated by their maid, Rebecca, who ceremoniously carried in the platter for the main event, handed Uncle Sid the carving tools, and stood at the ready with plate after plate of side dishes, serving each of us with flair. I loved Rebecca because she was a “real person,” not someone playing the part of a maid, so every holiday I would sneak into the kitchen and chat with her a while. She was always so good to me. What used to get me the most was the big “act” Uncle Sid put on about who got the turkey legs each holiday. Same script every year. Three of those cousins were his daughters, so they always “won,” especially Little Liz, who whined until she got the biggest one. Apparently, when he ordered his turkey, he passed a little extra coinage into the owner’s hand and somehow he always wound up with a third leg. My cousin Roz and I had to settle for dry white meat and didn’t have the fun of chomping the meat off the bone. I always silently vowed that when I grew up, I’d get back at them for that...and I did. When I was about 15, I was dating a butcher’s son and told him I was dissatisfied with the Thanksgiving Turkey Leg Ripoff, so he came up with a wonderful idea. A day before Thanksgiving, he swiped two legs from his father’s shop. Since they also sold fully cooked individual parts, it was an easy heist. It was a lot harder, however, to wrap and hide the stolen appendages, but I managed it, and the next day I shoved them into my very large teenage satchel. When we got to Uncle Sid’s, I headed for Rebecca’s kitchen and made her complicit in my impending little crime. She laughed heartily and said,“I’ll make it work, honey. You go in the living room with the company and don’t worry ’bout nuthin’.”

The adults were drinking highballs, and Hawaiian Punch was being poured for us kids when the dinner bell rang, and we repaired to the dining room. All of us sat with hands folded while Aunt Bea mumbled her version of grace after one too many highballs, and then it was time! I squirmed nervously as Rebecca brought out a tureen of turkey soup and slurped it down as fast as possible. Then out came all the side dishes: stufﬁng, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top, green bean casserole, creamed onions, gravy, cornbread. Finally, Uncle Sid stood, dimmed the lights, and announced,“Rebecca, bring in the star of the show!” Rebecca wheeled in a silver tray with an enormous bird, about 30 lbs., two legs still attached to the frame, the extra one in the cavity, and on the very top of the breast, like twin antennas, two more legs, each wearing a manchette (frilly paper accouterment). Everyone looked astounded as Uncle Sid bellowed,“Rebecca, where did this 5-legged turkey come from?”With tongue ﬁrmly in her cheek, she replied,“I dunno, sir. You bought it.” HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE! HOPE YOU GET A LEG UP ON YOUR FAMILY!

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The image shows an 1861 wood engraving titled “The London Sweep” (also kn nown as a chimney sweep or “climbing boy”) illustrated by Arrchibald S. Henning.

Chimney cleaning ning may bring to mind images of W Wa alt Disney’s Mary M Poppins’ movie and the chimney sweeps’ choreographed rooftop dance. In reality y,, chimney cleaning is serious business. To T o talk about alll the th misconceptions, dos and don’ts, I contacted contacte Jack Mahoney y,, founder of Dublin City Chimney Chimn - who installed a flue liner in my chimney after I bought my Norwich, Connecticut home and inspected my gas furnace/water heater annually before I sold my home nine years ago. M h k d as a federal f d l building b ildi inspector i t Mahoney worked for 36 years, has mechanical, electrical, civil and environmental engineering degrees under his belt and almost 30 years’ experience in his own chimney business. Toools of the trade: the brushes, ro rope an nd weight, and shovel used to keep chimneys mneys clean and safe.

The biggest thing: If the chimney is being used, it has to be inspected annually for loose bricks and cracks, said Mahoney of Ledyard during a telephone interview w.. “It has to visibly be looked at by somebody who knows what they’re looking at,” to find out if it is code compliant and in safe condition. While on the roof, he said they also inspect the stain n-less-steel/clay flue liner and lead flashing (a waterproof seal where the chimney meets the roof). The flashing prevents water from seeping into the home, which can cause interior water damage on ceilings and walls. If this happens during the wintertime when it’s icy y,, homeowners have to wait for a thaw w.. Also, you can only have one appliance per flue, Mahoney said. “Y Yo ou can have four items (appliances) ( pp ) in that same chimney y y,, but you’ve got to have four separate flues. So, you’ve got one flue going to the furnace, one flue going to the pellet stove, one flue going to a fireplace and one flue going to your hot water heater.” While waiting for flue liners to be installed, “I tell people to open the windows, just one inch, even in the middle of winterr,,” to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, said Mahoney y,, who retired this year. Jason Childs of Preston, Connecticut, the new owner of Dublin City Chimney y,, trained with Mahoney and worked with him for 11 years. “I came from a childhood trauma of a house fire when I was five and it was a total loss in the middle of winterr,,” Childs said in an email. Sometimes flue liners get blocked by falling bricks, animals and cobwebs that get trapped inside, Mahoney said. They’ve found dead cats, sea gulls, bats, 11 squirrels and a skunk, as well as live raccoons and a barn owl. Some customers and their families have had carbon monoxide poisoning, which can mimic the flu, and had to go to the hospital/doctors, he said. Symptoms include tiredness, headaches, confusion, sleepiness, nauseousness, shortness of breath, blurred vision, loss of muscle control/consciousness, memory loss, personality changes and movement nt problems, according to mayoclinic.org.

Mahoney added, “If yo ou think you have a problem, think hink of it this way: Have you gott more energy at work? Becausee if you do, there’s a problem at thee house...because the carbon monoxide onoxide is taking your energy awaay y..” To prevent critters from To m getting into the chimney again, a metal cover the same size as tthe chimney and screening must immediately be installed, whicch will also prolong the life of the chimney ner from cracking, he said. and prevent the flue lin Mahoney remembered rraccoons actually sitting on the roof watching him and another workerr when they installed chimney covers. “When we were done, the racco oon climbed up on it and started shaking it,” trying to figure out how w he was going to get in. The New Yo York City nativ ve warned: “Stores sell cleaning logs for fireplaces, which are horrible. ble. It’s not a cleanerr.. It’s an encapsulatorr.. So as the chemicals from the logs ogs ar are going up, it’s encapsulating anything that is in the flue, but it’ss also rreducing the size of the flue and it’s capturing the dirt versuss cleaning it.” Now instead of a $200 cleaning job using brushes, it costs ts $800 to $1,000, because the cr creosote or tar is stuck to the chimney walls. alls. Removing it rrequires roto-cleaning, which involves using a mechanical nical chain-link whip on a drill. Sometimes the chimney is so bad, he said they have to condemn it and constrru uct a new one. Battery-operated or plug-in ug-in carbon monoxide detectors (which ar are sometimes combined with smoke detectors) should be installed in the basement, on the first rst floor over the furnace and on each addi additional floorr,, said Mahon ney y,, adding it’s important to read manufacturers’ instructions, because cause wall placements vary y.. Over the years, he said d he has inspected about 40 new homes “where chimney liners were shoved in at the top and bottom and there’s nothing in the middle, because the chimney designed by architects is built by contractors,” and they use what is available, which is not always to the specifications of the architect.

A Chimney Sweep, 1866, Painted in England in 11866, Frederick Daniel Hardy’s The Chimney Sweep captures a moment when chimney cleaning was a very differen nt—and much more dangerous—profession. The young sweep working inside the firreeplace is a “climbing boy,” an appprreentice small enough to squeeze into the narrow passage. The painting offers a glimpse of the trade long beforree the bbrushes, cameras and power tools used today.

Jason Childs is tthe new owner of Dublin City Chimney, which serves Southeasteern Connecticut

Many chimneys have flaws, M Mahoney said, adding there are actual mathematical equations forr how big the firebox (where you’re building fire), smoke chambeer and flue chimney should be. Fires can be caused when you u change how you use a fireplace, he said. “Say y,, for instance…you want to start using processed wood instead of regular wood. W Weelll, that might be a little bit of a problem if there is creosote up theere (in chimney), because the heat from the processed wood is g going to burn a lot hotterr,, which is going to make the possibility (higher) of the chimney flue jumping over 400 degrees and catching g that h creosote on fire.” fi ” “I actually saw a wood stove iimplode by using processed wood. It n-looked like a squashed beer caan,” Mahoney said, adding most man ufacturers will not warranty th he stove if you use processed wood. He said he has also seen “chiimneys that weren’t chimneys” with no flue liner that were decoraative inside and out. “Then they (customers) started to use it aas a fireplace, but it had just enough air to let it go up,” as well as through the bricks and cracks. “It’s rare but I have encountered it with oil burners and fir rare, fireplaces.” Inspecting and cleaning chimneys mneys was extr extremely rewarding for him, because he accomplished lished something, Mahoney said. When he worked as a building ing of official, he said, “I was the mean guy y,, always the discip plinarian going to jobs, telling con ntractors they couldn’t do things ings or he did or didn’t like their work. And doing the chimneys eys gave me an ‘out’ to be nice, help people, make it better for them.”

Jason Childs is installing a custom-fitted, stainless stteel cover into a wet concrete crroown.

Chimney cleaning has changed ged dramatically over the years. Before flue liners were required after W Wo orld W Wa ar II in the mid 1940s, Mahoney said homeowners shoved Christmas trees

“I camee from a childhood trauma of a house

fi e fire

when I was fi five and d it i was a total loss in the

middle off winter”

with a rope attached down the chimney y.. They would then pull it the rest of the way down with the rope from inside. Now w,, brushes, power drills/saws, hand tools and cleaners are used. Dublin City Chimney also uses electric cameras and closed-circuit television to show customers photos and videos of what they see in their chimneys at no extra cost.

Jack Mahoney of Ledyard, Con nnecticut is now retired. The New Y Yoork City native founded Dublin City C Chimney almost 30 years ago. Jason Childs is the new owner of the chimney company.

He urges people to choose their chimney cleaner carefully y,, ask questions, interview numerous contractors and most importantly y,, trust your gut. Ask others who they hired, check reviews, inquire on Facebook, as well as NextDoor and other forums. Most cleaners receive about three days of training, he said. “When Jason came on board 11 years ago, he didn’t go to any chimney or do anything in anyone’s home (alone) for one year to be 100 percent sure he could do it himself. And even when he did it, I went right behind him and looked again. He was probably the best I’ve ever worked with...Over the years, you become proficien nt.”

Jason Childs is installing a custoom-fitted, stainless steel cover into a wet concrreete crroown.

“Jack was a stickler forr safety when I trained with him, which is great, because I felt the samee way and didn’t want any families to have to go through a house firre and lose it all,” said Childs, a trained mason who also worked as an n electrical engineer for 16 years.

Painting by Fritz Paulsen 1867. During thhe 1800s, German genre painters like Fritz Paulsen specialized in creating charming, anecdotall scenes of town life.

For more information, contact Dublin City Chimney in Prreeston, Connecticut at 860-464-8409.

The

Cheesemonger Deana Simmon, The Cheese Shop of Centerbrook

Gather, Give Thanks & Pass the Cheese...

t seems like we were just welcoming the warmth of summer, and now here we are, with Thanksgiving just around the corner! Where has the time gone? The leaves have turned, the air has grown crisp, and our thoughts have turned to gathering around the table with family, friends and, of course, plenty of good food.

Thanksgiving has a way of sneaking up on us, bringing with it the familiar comforts and traditions of the season. There’s the turkey, the stufﬁng, Grandma’s famous potatoes and the pie everyone insists they have room for. But before the feast begins, there’s an opportunity to introduce something a little different to the table: a thoughtfully curated cheeseboard. Cheese has a wonderful way of bringing people together. It invites conversation, encourages a little curiosity, and gives hungry guests something delicious to nibble on while the turkey ﬁnishes roasting. And the best part? A Thanksgiving cheeseboard doesn’t have to be complicated. A few well-chosen cheeses, seasonal fruit, toasted nuts, your favorite jam, and some crusty bread can create a spread that feels special. Here we’ve put together a list of cheeses and explained why they deserve a place on your Thanksgiving cheeseboard.

Harbison – Jasper Hill Farm, Vermont Harbison is a soft, rustic cheese with a bloomy rind. The young cheeses are wrapped in spruce bark and set to age. The result is a spoonable texture that’s woodsy and sweet. It pairs well with oaky white wines, pears, apples, toasted nuts and crusty bread. Make it special – Pour a smidge of white wine in the center and warm it in a low oven. Mix and serve.

Camembert – Normandy, France Camembert is a classic, soft-ripened cheese from France that whispers indulgence with every bite. Its buttery, bloomy rind hides the earthy, mushroomy ﬂavor that’s distinctive to Camembert. Apples, pears, ﬁgs and cranberries all pair well with Camembert. Open the Champagne and enjoy. Make it special – Cut the Camembert in half horizontally so you have two round pieces. Fill it with your favorite autumn chutney and put the other half on top. Bake until it’s warm and starts to melt. Top with more chutney.

Stilton – England For me, it wouldn’t be the holidays without Stilton. This classic blue cheese lights up any cheeseboard with its rich ﬂavor and its harmonious blend of sweet and savory. Fresh fruit like ﬁgs, pears and cherries all complement Stilton’s earthiness. Add toasted walnuts and a drizzle of honey to make it extra special, and serve with a glass of your favorite Port. Make it special: A quick Stilton appetizer for holiday parties – dried apricots, Stilton, pistachios and honey. Top each dried apricot with a crumble of Stilton, sprinkle with chopped pistachios, drizzle with honey (you can switch out the pistachios for walnuts, too) and serve.

Truffle Manchego – La Mancha, Spain The earthy, unmistakable aroma of truffles is infused into Spain’s beloved Manchego, creating a cheese that feels both rustic and indulgent. Truffles can be a love-it-or-leave-it flavor, but the truffle flavor in Manchego is mild compared to other truffle cheeses. Its buttery, firm texture and deep, savory flavor make it stand out on any cheeseboard. It brings a touch of elegance and something a little unexpected. Truffle Manchego complements sweeter accompaniments like fig jam, honey and dried fruit.

Taleggio – Lombardy, Italy Taleggio is named for Val Taleggio, a scenic Alpine valley in Lombardy. Taleggio has a thin, pinkish-brown, edible rind and a soft, pale-yellow, creamy interior. Don’t let the pungent aroma fool you – Taleggio is surprisingly mild, with hints of fruit and tang and a gentle earthiness. Taleggio is the unexpected guest that just may steal the show on your holiday cheeseboard. It works wonderfully alongside pears, apples and ﬁg jam, with a lovely Barbera or Pinot Grigio.

Rush Creek Reserve – Uplands Cheese, Wisconsin This special, soft-ripened cheese, inspired by the great cheeses of Europe, is made only in the fall using rich cow’s milk. Wrapped in spruce bark, it develops a soft, custardy interior that’s often described as “savory custard.” It’s soft enough to scoop with a spoon, making it the perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving cheeseboard. Smoky and meaty, with a woodsy sweetness that plays nicely with tart apples, pears and honeycomb. Serve it with an off-dry Riesling or Gewürztraminer and get the party started. Remember, a beautiful cheeseboard is about more than just the cheese. It’s about bringing people together and creating moments that make the holidays special. Whether you’re choosing your favorites or venturing out and trying something new or unexpected, don’t be afraid to get a little creative. After all, the best holiday boards aren’t about following rules. They’re about making delicious memories. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving ﬁlled with good food, great company and plenty of reasons to say cheese!

Deana Simmons The Cheese Shop of Centerbrook

401 Ya Yankee Cider Barn |East Haddam CT T 23 Petticoat Lane East Haddam CT T,, 06423 Sunday - 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM 860-873-2433

Celebrate the end of the harvest with orchard games, a ciderr--donut eating contest, bonfire and a whimsical ceremony to send the apple trees into winterr.. The afternoon culminates at 4:30pm with the Orchard W Waassail, complete with songs, good wishes and a littlee pot-and-pan banging to scare away unfriendly spirits. Free; 18+ +. Rain date Nov v.. 8.

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Essex filmfest /2 | Essex CT

Centerbrook Architects 67 Main Strreeet, Centerbrook, CT 06409 • 860 -767- 0175 Independent film takes center stage with scrreeenings, filmmaker Q&As and special programs, including a prro oducing masterr-class with Scott Macaulay y,, co-founder and former editorr--in-chieff of Filmmaker magazine. Films include What Happened W Wa as…, Raising V Viictor V Varg argas, The Assistant and Gummo. Admission iss frreee; donations benefit the Essex Library Association.

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Art Tr Trail | Bridgeport CT

The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (The Kate) 300 Main Str Street, reeet, Old S Saybrroook, CT • T Tiickets at thekate.o orrgg

John Sebasstian & Jimmy Vi Vivino

Celtic Wi Wintter Solstice Celebration

Six-time Do Y Yo ou Believe in n Magic, Summer in the City y,, Y Yo ou Didn’t Haave to Be So Nice — John Sebastian wrote th he soundtrack to a certain kind Spoonful fou Viivino for an V

Experience E i Bi as part of the HD series. A c most enduring works with hout leaving the Shorreeline. 12 pm

Exp perience Bizet’s Carmen on the big screen as p part of the Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series. A chance to see one of opera’s mosst enduring works without leaving the Shorreline. 8 p pm

These are just a few November N highlights. Therree’s plenty more happening at The Katte, so check thekate.orrgg for the full lineup.

Bridgeport Art Tr Trail / City Lights & Company 265 Golden Hill Street, Bridgeport, CT • 203-334-7748

Bridgeport’s annual citywide celebration of art returns for its 18th yearr,, opening studios, galleries and creative spaces throughout the th he city y. Meet artists, explore their worrk and discover the people and places that make Bridgeport’ss arts scene distinctive. Most events are free. bridgeportaarttrail.org

To T ony T Trrischka: r Honoring Earl Scruggs - Banjo master T To ony T Trrischka pays tribute to Earl Scrru uggs, the pion neering three-finger banjo player who h l dd helped define bluegrass. Drawing frro om rare din ngs of Scrru uggs and John Hartforrd d, T Trrischka recorrd and his band bring newly transcribed Scrru uggs uggs never rreecorded— solos—iincluding songs Scrru to the stage. A fitting finale to the 2026 Robbie Collomore Concert Series.

Science On Scrreen: Wall-E|Hartford CT

250 Columbus Boulevard,, Hartford, CT 06103 860-724-3623 Reeal Art W Wa ays’ Science on Screen® paairs Pixar ’s W WA ALL-E with a talk by Drr. r. Shalabh Gupta on how robotics is chaanging our world—for world for better and orse. The presentation begins at wo 3pm, followed by a 3:30pm screening of WA WALL-E.

Sugarland| Mo ontville CT

Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mo ohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT 06382 • 860-862-7469 The Grammy-winning cou untry duo brings g its hits to the arena, including l d ““All ll I Wa Want to Do o,” “Stay y,,” “Stuck Like Glue” and a “Something More.” 7:00PM

Robbie Colllomore Series| Chester CT

The Chester Meeting Ho ouse, 4 Liberty Street, Chesterr,, CT 4:00 PM M - 6:30 PM

Balloonist Bert B Padelt |W Winsor Locks CT

Turkey Tr Tu Trot Rock 5K | West Haven CT

New England Air Museu um, 36 Perimeter Rd, W Wiindso or Locks CT 5:30pm-9:00pm Hear the extraorrrd dinary story y of Bert Padelt’s Padelt s 40-year quest to crro oss the Attlantic by hydrro ogen balloon, culminating in his h historic 2026 flight. The evening launches the N New England Air Mu u-seum’s new Lighterr--than-A Air exhibition.

Savin Rock Conference Center C r,, 6 Rock St., We West Haven, CT www w..shorelinesharks.com/Events/ STT5K.htm Start Thanksgiving mornin ng with a rru un along the Savin Rock Boarrd dwalk as the sun rises dwalk over the waterr.. The flat, carrr-free 5K welcomes runners ru unners and walkers, with a food drive and fundraiser benefiting WHE EA AT T. Registration opens at 6:45am.

Shube ert Theatre | New Haven CT October brings an eclectic lineup of concerts and special events to this New Haven venue. For the complete schhedule and ticket information, visit the College Strreeet Music Hall website.

07 - Hot Mulligan: North American A Fall To Tourr,, with One Step Closerr,, Riley!, W Waakelee | 7pm 11 - TTrrivium: Crown in the Grave World Wo To Tourr,, with In Flames, Fit for an Autopsy A y,, Frozen Soul | 6:35pm 15 - Big Headd TToodd dd and d the h Monsters | 7:30pm 19 - Zoltan Kaszas: Worldwide(ish) Wo To Tour | 7:30pm 20 - Rival Sons: Domestic Bliss To Tourr,, with The Blue Stones, The V Veelveteers | 8pm 21 - The Living Tombstone: To The Multiplayer To Tour

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Beat the Butterball Blues| Mystic CT

7 Noank Ledyard Rd., Mystic CT 715 Black Friday is the perfect day to shake a leg – and B we’r umsticks here! Bring the w e not talking about drru TrreeT e Trrails for outdoor fun. Yo You’ll banish faamily to T your turkey trance and work offff that extra piece of y p pumpkin pie as you climb through the trreees in the y,, 10am-4pm m for festive fun. frresh airr.. Join us Friday nfomystic@trreeetrails.com in

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Mystic Holiday Happenings |Mystic CT

Mystic River Park, 12 Cottrell St., M M Mystic, CT 860-572-9578 Sp pend d th the d day iin M Mystic ti as th the ttown gets t ready re e for the holidays. An artisan market on n Cottrell Street offffers handmade gifts nd goods, Santa arrives by tugboat at an pm, and the festivities continue with 2p th he trreee lighting at Mystic River Park at 6pm, followed by the Lighted d Boat P Parade at 6:15pm. Frreee. Prefer a riverside seat?The Greater Mystic Ch hamber of Commerrcce offffers a VIP P Vi Viewing Party at th he Myss-tic Museum of Art, with access to the museum m’s riverside patio, an unobstrru ucted view of the parade, p food provided by Gourmet Galley and heaterrs. rs The adult VIP P ticket also includes one bar drink. Information: gomystic.org/lighted-boat-paarade Mystic Museum of Art: 9 W Wa ater St., Mystiic • 8660-536-7601

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Trees In The Rigging | Essex CT Tr

6 Main St., Essex, CT • 860-767-8269 • ctrivermuseum.org 67 The Connecticut River Museum and T E Essex Historical Society bring back this cllassic holiday celebration, with the mu u-seeum filled with seasonal festivities and a parade of dazzlingly decorated boats o the Connecticut Riverr.. And yes, Steve on Train Show will be C Cryan’s 33rd Annual Tr on o the third floorr,, too.

2477 College Street New Haven, CT For T Tiickets or Information www.shubert.com or call (203) 562-5666 Mon - Fri 12:PM to 6:PM Opened in 1914, New w Haven’s ’s historic Shubert Theatre re is one of America’s legendary Brrooadway houses. h Built for live theater long before re television, rroock concerts, or “talkies”. More re than a century later, r, the Shubert rreemains vital to New Haven’’ss culturall life. Here re are re a few October highlights frroom its lineup.

D Decons str t ucting ti th the B Beatles tl

60th anniversary y of the Beatles’ 1966 album Revo olver Scott Freiman, hostt of Deconstructing the Beatles, celebrates the 60th 6 anniversary of Revolver with a track-by-tracck exploration of the album’s songs, recording seessions and groundbreaking studio techniques, using u rare audio and video from the Beatles’ creative process. Th hursday y,, 7:00pm

ABT Stu udio Company

American Ballet Theaatre’s junior company brings its rising stars, ages 17 to o 21, to the Shubert stage. The international ensemb ble performs a mix of classical, neoclassical and conttemporary works, including new choreography crreeated specifically fo or its dancers. More than 80% of current ABT dancers arree Studio Company y alumni. Saturday y,, 7:00pm

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Grease

Ry R ydell d ll High Hi h comes tto lif life as S Sacred dH Heartt Acad A demy students join male m actors from 12 local high schools for this 19500s musical classic, celebrating Sacred Heart Accademy’s 80th anniversary y.. Expect the familiar songs, s Pink Ladies, T T--Birds and plenty p of teenage romance and rebelliion. Fri., Nov v.. 13, 7:30pm m | Sat., Nov v.. 14, 2pm & 7:30pm

1 Elizaabeth Strreeet, eet Hartford, Hartford CT • 860860-236-6571 236 6571 www w..connecticutmuseum.org

07 - Journey to t Prehistoric Connecticut

A hands-on trip into o Connecticut’s prehistoric past: learn to recognize dinosaur tracks and d ancient plants, dig for replica Connecticut fossils and make a fossil off your own. Free

19 - L Ly ydia Sigo ourney: Unsung Mother Of American Literature

A virtual Lunch and Learn exploring the Hartffo ord poet, educaattor and rigghts activist. Free; reggistraaattion required.

28-29 Rememb R b bering G. Fox & Co. Go behind the sceness at the Connecticut Museum to see its collection of memorabilia from G.. Fox & Co., Hartford’s legendary department store. To are Nov Tours v.. 28 at 11am and Nov v.. 29 at 1pm; $15.

Steve Cryan’’s 33rd Annual Tr Train Show | Essex CT 67 Main Street, Essex, CT • 860-767-8269 • ctrivermuseum.org November 19, 2026 — January 31, 2027 Every fall, artist and train enthusiast Steve Cryan transforms the third floor of the Connecticut River Museum into a miniature world of locomotives, buildings, boats and the Connecticut Riverr.. Now in its 33rd yearr,, the intricate display has become a holiday tradition, complete with a scavenger hunt.

The Anti–Black Friday Guide: Small Business Saturday Find gifts with a little morre personality while supporting local makers and small businesses. Consider it an antidote to big-box shopping.

Thanksgiving At Wa Water’s Edge | We Westbrook CT 1525 Boston Post Road, We Westbrook • 860-399-5901 • watersedger g esortandspa.com p Water's Edge Wa g Resort & Spa p Wa W ant Thanksgiviing without the cooking, dishes and cleanu up? W Wa ater’s Edge Resort & Spa serves a lavish Thanksgiving buffet h chef-carved specialties, by the shore, with seasonal favorites and a dessert spread. Nov v.. 26, 11am–7p pm. $96; children 4–10, $48.

Photo: Voolodymyr Hryshchenko / Unsplash

Wesleyan Potters’’ 71stt Annual Sale| Middletown CT We 350 South Main Street, Midd dletown, CT 06457 860-347-5925 • www.wesleyanpotters.com ers.com Nov v.. 27–Dec. 24 A Black Frid day alternative for anyone ne who would rather bring g home something made ade by hand. The 71st annual sale features pottery y,, jewelry, jewelry y,, fiberr, y r, glass, glas wood and stone by more than 2000 craftspeople. craftspeople tspeople

The Bowerbird | Olld Ly Lyme CT North Pole Express | Essex CT T Essex Steam Tr Train & Riverboat,1 Railrroad Av Ave., Essex 860-767-0103 • www.essexsteamtrain..com All aboard for a 90-minute holiday train ride through the Connecticut countryside aboard the Essex Steam T Trrain. W Weeekend and select weekday departures run from late Novemb ber through Decemberr,, Class. Ti Tickets start at $60. with seating from Coach to Premium First C

Gillette Castle State Park | East Ha addam CT 67 River Road, East Haddam, CT • 860-526 6-2336 • ctparks.com An eccentric stone castle overlooking the Co on n-necticut Riverr,, built by actor W Wiilliam Gillettee, who famously played Sherlock Holmes. W Wiitth its unusual architecture, quirky details and sweeeping river views, the castle is a wonderful discoveery— even for longtime Connecticut residents. Exp plore the grounds and trails in November; check sseasonal hours for interior tours.

Goat Yoga | Southington CT 537 Shuttle Meadow Road, Southingto on • 860-385-4628 • bradleymountainfarm.com Grab a friend and go do so ome goat yoga. At Bradley Mountain Farm, an hour of yoga comes with goats wandering, playing and demanding attention. Classses are year-round, indoors orr out, and open to aages 10 and up. Then, if y d to make a day y of it, head you’re so inclined to Fable in Southington for coffee, tea and its wonderfully eclectic mix of books, plants, w..ctfable.com— antiques and curiosities www or continue on to the New Britain Museum of American Art.

https://www w..nbmaa.org/visit

46 Halls Road, Old Lyme, CT C • 860-434-3562 • www w .thebowerbird.com A lon longtime ng n ngti Old Lyme favorrite, Bowerbird is pa packed pac p aacck cked k with jewelry y,, gifts, toys, t stationery y,, home an and nd garden finds, and the k nd kind of things you didn’t didn d n’’t know you were look king for until you found them. A good place to escape the samenesss of big-box shopping.

de Gerenday’s Fine Art A Materials & Curiositiees | Old Ly Lyme CT 84 Lyme St. Old Lyme CT • w www.degerendays.com More than an artt supply sto ore, de Gerenday’s is a wonderffu fully ful ulllly y eclectic mix of fine ne art mateer erials, unusual objects and curio urrio io osities. o os ssit si iiti it ttiies tie iees. A good place to find d someth some hing unexpected for the artist— sttt— —or the —or —o t he th simply curious—on your giift list.

Studio Jeffrey P’an | Mystic CT 25 Roosevelt A Av ve., Mystic • 860-536-9274 • studiojef t di j ff ffr f eypan.com A working glassblowing stud studio and contemporary glass gallery where you o can fi ou find fin nd d one-of-a-kind o pieces and, when n the hot hot shop p iss rru unn unning, watch the artists at work. A gift wi with ith h a li lit ittle ttle fire behind it. The studio and gallery lllerry y ar a e open o op p pen en nT Tu uesday uesd day W Weednesday and Thursday 10-2 , Friday riday and an nd Sa nd Saturda day 10-5.

The Handmade de Hub b | Middletown CT 386 Main St., Middletow ow wn • 860-573-6780 petrilloshandmadehub.ccom More Mor ree than 70 Connecticut makers, maakers, farms, food pr produc ro oducc-ers and crafters come together under one roof, ro offffering everything from jewelry and home goods to soaps, specialty foods and handmade gifts. It’s like brro owsing a whole lot of lo ocal craft fairs without having to wait for one.

S a y b r o o kH o me..c o m

860.3 88.0891

@ sa y b r o o k ho me m